More on this incident via the Los Angeles Times:
The spat between New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and a Santa Fe hair stylist has gotten as ugly as – dare we say it? – a lousy haircut.
Earlier this week, KOB-TV ran an interview with Antonio Darden, who has cut the Republican governor’s hair a handful of times. Darden, who is gay, announced he would never do so again unless Martinez dropped her opposition to gay marriage.
The spectacle of the stylist's protest worked the Internet into, well, a lather. (The story lends itself to all sorts of goofy puns.)
So Martinez’s office spent Thursday fighting back.
A few months ago, Martinez needed a haircut on short notice, spokesman Greg Blair told The Times in an email. One of her staffers called about half a dozen hair stylists, including Darden, before finding one who could fit her in. At the time, Darden didn’t utter a word about gay marriage, Blair said.
That changed in recent weeks, when Darden left a voice mail that the governor’s office released to reporters Thursday. In it, Darden appears to have recently learned that Martinez opposed gay marriage, and said he was “upset and distraught” over her stance.
Then Darden mentioned a recent controversy in which a Democratic lawmaker referred to Martinez as “the Mexican” for whom a colleague had been “carrying water.” (The lawmaker later apologized.)
“I do believe the comment about ‘taking the Mexican some water’ was appropriate, since she wants to be attacking the gay people,” Darden said in the message. “You may pass this on and let her listen to it. And, Susana, if you are listening to it, shame on you.
“I am going to let all gay people know,” he continued, “stop serving you, stop providing you with what you need.”
It’s unclear what prompted Darden’s phone call.
20 Comments
This is news? This is downright silly.
Imagine just for a second if this had been turned around and a homosexual had been treated like this.
Do you think harsh condemnations and "civil rights" violations from the faux "justice department" wouldn't be in the works already?
Why arent the SSM activists screaming "Discrimination" like they always do when this happends to them?
She just wants the same right to refuse service as that wedding photographer had the right to refuse service to a lesbian couple....oh wait.
I hope the governer sues him for discrimination. I know if it was me. I would be suing for discrimination.
@Michael
Or the Iowa shop owner who was(or still is?) facing a boycott because she refused to help out with a lesbian couple's commitment ceremony.
Ah. So if I wanted to deny racists, I'd be a bad person, wouldn't I? This whole "well, if it were turned the other way" scenario is strange at best. Pretty much anyone's oppositional needs to be validated, right? Even a racist's?
Well, it is his right to choose who he does business with, just as it's her right to take as stand she believes in. But he's a bit of a drama queen, isn't he? I'm sure there are plenty of hair stylists that'll do the job.
@QueerNE
That's not the point. I don't mind him denying business to the governor, that's his right. There is a double standard here. I had a black woman be openly racist towards me, but if I had denied her service because of her offensive remarks, I'd probably be fired.
Good for him. Gays have been discriminated for so long. Its only fair that the bigots that oppose equality get the same treatment that they have been giving. I see nothing wrong with discriminating against someone that wants to deny you equal rights
I'm sure if the Governor told her friends not to seek out his services because he discriminates against those with differing political opinions, he would sue. He can, as an independent worker, stop services to her for any reason, but to tell others could be defamatory.
Polarizing issues make for polarizing society. Once we can understand and accept all people we will not be able to live the "Golden Rule" One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself.
There is no way we can image everyone being the way we want them to be, there would be thousands of differing right ways to be...as there is now. What if we said I can accept you, but I may not agree with what you do
JD: "I'm sure there are plenty of hair stylists that'll do the job."
Indeed. Here's a quote from the article: "And her office has received calls from at least 10 stylists this week offering their hair-cutting services."
@Zack
Fired for her being rude? If your place of work retains the right to refuse service, and you still get fired, I'd find a new job anyway. Secondly, one should consider the relationship between the two groups that are conflicting; in the above case, he refused service to a person not simply because of her beliefs, but her actions towards the group of people to which he belongs.
Patrick Strong,
I see a great deal wrong with treating public accommodation of the reprehensible practice of same-sex sexual relationships as a matter of "equal rights" for "gays".
"Good for him. Gays have been discriminated for so long. Its only fair that the bigots that oppose equality get the same treatment that they have been giving. I see nothing wrong with discriminating against someone that wants to deny you equal rights"
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, eh? Doesn't that leave everyone "eyeless and toothless," eventually?
" I see nothing wrong with discriminating against someone that wants to deny you equal rights."
How hypocritical. The govenor was treated as less than equal herself. If I see you in my shop, I'll be sure to deny you service because I don't like the color of your shoes.
@QueerNE
That's how political correctness works. Unfortunately my place of work does not retain those rights(I work at Target) so it would be my head on a platter. Not hers.
"he refused service to a person not simply because of her beliefs, but her actions towards the group of people to which he belongs."
What actions has she exhibited? She simply believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Okay, let me understand this: a bed and breakfast or a wedding photographer cannot refuse service to a gay couple based on their deeply-held political beliefs without being sued, but this gay hair stylist gets to refuse service to the Governor because of her political beliefs - and gets away with telling others to do the same? Brilliant! (sarcasm intended.) Talk about a double standard!
You are right Karen. It is a double standard and very hypocritical as well